The patent, entitled "Process for determining the percent chelation in a dry mixture", enables one to determine the presence of a chelate, as well as the percent of the mineral that is actually chelated in a dry powder.

The company claims this is the first laboratory process for determining the amount of mineral in a mineral amino acid chelate powder that is chelated to the amino acid ligand.

Chelation, which takes place naturally in the body to facilitate transport of minerals across the intestinal wall, plays a key role in the bioavailability of minerals. According to Albion, amino acids are ideal chelators or ligands from a nutritional aspect.

The company claims to have developed a process to closely duplicate the natural chelation that occurs in the body, and this patent if for the testing process relating to this chelation.

Albion said it takes inorganic mineral sources and turns them into organic molecules, making them highly bioavailable and more effective. The company uses these processes for mineral fortification.

The company said the testing procedure is in the process of being published in the AOAC officially recognized guidelines for testing this ingredient form.